Edo: Five killed in suspected cult clashes

Some parts of Benin, Edo State, have been thrown into panic as five persons have been reportedly killed in the last two days during clashes between members of rival cults.

PUNCH Metro gathered that some of the hoodlums were among those who recently escaped from the Benin and Oko prisons, as they continued their war of supremacy on the streets of the state capital.

The cult fights happened in Upper Sokponba, Ogida and New Benin areas of Benin.

Our correspondent learnt that on Wednesday, some armed men took over areas in Upper Sokponba Road, brandishing weapons and harassing motorists.

Two people were reportedly killed in Idogbo; one close to a filling station after the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area secretariat and another near Y-Junction also along the same Sokponba Road.

Another two, including one said to be a father of four and the other said to be an escapee from one of the prisons, were also killed near Ogida barracks.

One person was killed on Wednesday near the Constain area in New Benin.

A resident in Upper Sokponba Road said on Thursday that people had been living in fear over the activities of hoodlums, cultists and armed robbers in the state.

“By 5pm to 6pm, people move into their houses because these boys openly brandish weapons, robbing and harassing people. This morning (Thursday), two people were killed; we later learnt that they were members of rival cults,” he added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the command was working to check the activities of criminal elements in the state. Punch